It's a hands on meal at St. Peter's College Medieval Feast

For some, the eve of Ash Wednesday is called Shrove Tuesday, a day that evokes pancakes as a feast leading up to lent. In other quarters, sometimes French ones, it’s Mardi Gras, an infamous party of reckless celebration.

At St. Peter’s College and at the Abbey, the Tuesday leading into Ash Wednesday is the Medieval Feast celebration, a good time of gathering, costumes and entertainment in a celebration of all things “medieval.”

The meal, held on Tuesday, February 13, welcomed students, faculty, staff and invited guests to partake in a wonderful “hands only” meal. Music matching the classical theme was performed by Brother Benedict and Brother Kurt, while the proceedings were led by the always gregarious Lady Elaine Hulse, long time faculty member.

“It’s just a great event for everyone to have fun, to dress up as in medieval times, and just really enjoy ourselves,” said Student Services Officer Jayden Engele, himself dressed in a smock and horned headgear.

The meal, served from trenchers into traditional bread bowls, is designed to be eaten with the hands as customary in the times portrayed. The feast was joined by a group of writers on retreat, who often add to the celebration by performing original or impromptu works. Even some of the classes during the day took a medieval spin as students from artist Grant McConnell’s class could attest, having emerged from a session on medieval and classical art and architecture.

The entrance procession is always a time of great pomp and circumstance, led as always by Abbot Peter Novecosky, Fr Lawrence De Mong, and of course, the King and Queen of the court, an honour bestowed to Chet Saretsky and Abigail Debusschere.

Enjoy a few of the sights from this year’s St. Peter’s College and Abbey Medieval Feast.